Beacon Hill Blog

Beacon Hill possibly “the test bed for a new network”

Glenn Fleishman’s latest article at Publicola deals with the broadband pariah that is Beacon Hill and the Central District and how Mayor-Elect Mike McGinn wants to address the issue by building a city-wide fiber-to-the-home network paid for by revenue bonds. A plan to “issue bonds, find contractors, and start building triple-play to the home over fiber” is deemed “likely”. This would entail “100 Mbps symmetrical broadband (like they have in Hong Kong, where it costs US$14 per month), video with high-definition channels, and unlimited voice calling.” An appealing proposition.

Read the article at Publicola.

Tags: broadband, publicola

Does your Broadstripe service meet expectations (yet)?

(A) Broadstripe (representative) speaks up in the comments of a previous item:

We have been taking steps to improve High Speed Data services to your area. We have been systematically troubleshooting and repairing our nodes to provide exceptional service to our subscribers. Please contact us directly at earningourstripes@broadstripe.com so we can confirm if you’re (sic) concerns have been resolved with our recent upgrades or if we can do anything further to assist in resolving any on-going service concerns.

We’ve been pretty lucky here; we have not experienced the lengthy periods of complete internet outages many of you have reported and have repeatedly gone back and forth with Broadstripe over (many to the point of giving up on cable broadband entirely).

In my recent experience, I have seen some improvement: speeds during peak usage periods (evenings) are not nearly as horrible as I’d seen in September, but they’re usually only a tenth of the advertised speed of 15 megabits per second. At off-peak times, I have seen very brief peaks above 10 megabits near the beginning of a single download, but after a megabyte or two, the speeds appear to be throttled down to an average somewhere around 3 megabits, one fifth of the advertised rate.

As a rule-of-thumb, downloading one megabyte (1,048,576 bytes or 1024 kilobytes) should take:

• about 15 seconds at 500 kilobits per second (500Kbps).
• about 8 seconds at one megabit per second (1Mbps).
• less than one second at ten megabits per second (10Mbps).

I encourage you to run your own tests — real-world tests like downloading software updates or loading large web pages as well as speed tests performed through sites like speedtest.net and Broadband Reports — and report your findings in the comments.

Those of you who have experienced general outages: have they become shorter or less frequent? Has their support staff become more responsive and solved your issues?

Please also send your experiences back to Broadstripe.

Tags: broadband, broadstripe, cable modem, cablemodem, download, speed

Beacon Hill library hours won’t be reduced after all

The Friends of Seattle Public Library Blog reports good news: yesterday, the City Council voted unanimously to increase support for library services by $860,000 in 2010, which will allow the restoration of some library operating hours and staff positions that would otherwise have been eliminated.

With this increase, the Beacon Hill library branch will keep its current seven days/60 hours per week schedule:

• Monday – Thursday, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
• Friday – Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Sunday 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Ballard, Broadview, Capitol Hill, Douglass-Truth, Greenwood, Lake City, Northeast, Rainier Beach, Southwest and West Seattle will also keep these hours.

Unfortunately, not all eliminated hours can be restored, and while Beacon Hill’s library hours have been saved, some other neighborhoods will still have the pain of serious cutbacks. The following branches will be reduced to a five days/35 hours per week schedule: Columbia, Delridge, Fremont, Green Lake, High Point, International District/Chinatown, Madrona-Sally Goldmark, Magnolia, Montlake, NewHolly, Northgate, Queen Anne, South Park, University and Wallingford.

Tags: budget cuts, library

Neighbors blogging: Walking hills, pipes, remodels, and reviews

This weekend there’s been a burst of activity on the blogs of some Beacon Hill neighbors. Here’s a selection of some recent posts.

Kat reflects on her former neighbor Marsha and the steep walk uphill.

Nikchick ponders how to deal with bad pipes in her home heating system.

Allison’s attic bedroom remodel is coming together.

Brendan has posted several new album reviews.

JvA has a new set of shots from her latest photographic tour of nearby Georgetown.

Thanks bloggers! And if you live on Beacon Hill and you’ve got a blog, please point us to it!

McGinn favorite among BHB readers in poll

The Beacon Hill Blog Mayoral Survey is now closed. Here are the results:

• McGinn: 61.5%
• Mallahan: 33%
• That dude sleeping on the bench in Triangle Park: 4%
• Other: 1.5%

Will these match the final numbers? Time will tell.

At least two people attempted to stuff the ballot box by voting repeatedly (and obviously). Any votes that were the result of such ballot-box stuffing were removed from the final total. This left us with fewer than 100 responses, so it is a very small sample.

Tags: mayor, politics, survey

Top of the Hill: Your favorite mayoral choices

It’s taken us longer to compile results from last month’s Top of the Hill survey than we expected. There are still a bunch more results coming, but since absentee ballots for the upcoming election are landing in everyone’s mailboxes this week, we wanted to get one of the results out to you sooner, rather than later.

We asked, “Who’s your favorite mayoral candidate at the moment?” As of September 11, when the survey closed, these were the results:

Mike McGinn had a huge lead on Beacon Hill with 53% of the vote, followed by Joe Mallahan with 15%. “That dude sleeping on the bench in Triangle Park” had a relatively strong showing, with 9%. (For the first week of the survey, the anonymous Triangle Park guy was actually leading the race.) 6% of the “Other” responses were “I don’t know.” Current Mayor Greg Nickels had 6% of the survey responses (the chart does not show this correctly).

The survey closed on September 11, so your opinions might have changed, or not. What do you think now? We’ve posted a new survey to find out what you currently think. Beacon Hill folks only, please.

Tags: mayor, politics, survey

Rocking, cycling, and gardening: Beacon Hill sights

The new ROCKiT space non-profit music and art organization on Beacon Avenue held their grand opening this weekend. Bridget Christian was there, and has posted a great set of photos from the event on Flickr. She says, “GREAT place for kids… all kinds of art stuff to do, books, instruments to mess around on.”

Jesse Vernon, of The Stranger, recently discovered the Chief Sealth Trail, which, he says, starts on Beacon Hill and then “transports you to Kubota Garden via Ireland. Or New Zealand. Or some other place with rolling green hills I’ve never been.” However, some commenters on Vernon’s post complained about the trail’s hills, and one commenter, Kinkos, suggested that the best way to ride the trail is to “take light rail to beacon hill, ride to the trailhead, then ride downhill on the trail to near the end – to the rainier beach sta. catch the train back to beacon hill, and repeat.”

Willie Weir has been photographing his Beacon Hill garden all year as part of an “exercise in extreme local travel” — enjoying the sights close to home that we often overlook. He’s posted a gorgeous video collection of last spring’s photos on YouTube.

Tags: art, bicycles, chief sealth trail, gardening, kubota garden, music, photography, rockit space, willie weir

Walking with Tica: Election Edition

Leaves are starting to turn and clouds are staying around for days instead of hours.  There’s that certain crispness in the air and football on TV (Go, Pack, Go!).  It must be election season.

Tica and I have been walking the blocks of North Beacon Hill since 2003.  We’ve watched election signs go up for Kerry, Bush, Rossi, Gregoire, Obama, McCain, Rossi, Gregoire… plus the monorail, levies, school board elections, parks, and more.  This year, there just isn’t the same showing–for any issue or any candidate. Where are the yard signs? Is it too early in the season?  Are candidates not producing them in the same way? It can’t be that Beacon Hill has become less interested in politics.  The 36th District is active, engaged, smart and passionate.  Both Democrats and Republicans in Beacon Hill vote.

Candidates are falling over themselves to attend and organize forums, townhalls, and walks in Beacon Hill and other parts of Southeast Seattle.  The City is working on a Neighborhood Plan to decide how high buildings in the Beacon Hill “urban village” will be.  There are changes proposed to improve the safety of cyclists on our streets.  I know our neighbors have opinions–get involved! Attend meetings if you can, read up on the issues if you can’t, and talk to your neighbors.

Most importantly, register to vote and confirm that your ballot is on track to be mailed to your current address.  All voting is by mail in Seattle.  Go to My Vote to be sure that you’re going to get your ballot.  Do you have a new roommate or neighbor?  Do you know someone who just turned 18?  Monday October 5th (today!) is the last day to register or change your address online.  If you have never registered in Washington, you have until October 26th to register in person.

We have several important choices on the ballot this November.  There are two new candidates for Mayor: Mike McGinn and Joe Mallahan.  We’re choosing between several City Council candidates AND there’s a race for City Attorney and King County Executive.  We are also voting on two statewide initiatives that could have lasting impact: I-1033 (a Tim Eyman initative) and R-71, a referendum to roll back approve or reject domestic partnership benefits.

Learn about the candidates and their values.  Understand the implications of the initiatives.  Vote.  That’s even more important than yard signs.

(Editor’s note — corrected R-71 reference. If you vote “approve” on R-71, that is to approve the new state domestic partnership law. If you vote “reject,” your vote would be to repeal the law.)

Tags: beacon hill, dow constantine, election, fall, I-1033, king county, mallahan, mayor, mcginn, politics, R-71, susan hutchison, tim eyman, vote, yard signs

Top of the Hill Survey Results Part 3: Wishes and reasons

The next group of results in the Beacon Hill Blog Top of the Hill are about the things we want, the reasons we live here, and the reasons why some might consider leaving Beacon Hill. Previous results are here, and there will be more results soon — stay tuned.

(Editor’s note: As with the earlier results, some of these results don’t add up to 100% because people gave multiple answers.)

What do you think is Beacon Hill’s most-needed amenity? We asked for one answer here, but some people listed as many as 17 different amenities!

It seems that, for the most part, Beaconites have food on their minds. The most popular answer was “More restaurants/cafés/coffee shops“, given by 29% of those surveyed. It was followed by requests for two specific kinds of establishments that people would like to see more of: a pub/brewpub/gastropub (a few people specifically mentioned Columbia City Ale House or West Seattle’s Beveridge Place Pub as the type of establishment they’d like to see here), mentioned by 18%, and a pizza restaurant, mentioned by 17%.

More retail in general was mentioned by 14%. 9% of you want more or better grocery stores (and a fair amount of you mentioned Trader Joe’s); one neighbor mentioned the need for a full-service grocery store south of Beacon and Columbian. Some of you are craving hamburgers; 8% of you want a restaurant with hamburgers, sandwiches, and general old-fashioned American “comfort food”. (Many people who gave this answer added that it needs to be kid-friendly, too.)

Beacon Hill once had a drugstore or two, and 8% of you think that a drugstore is our current most-needed amenity.

One neighbor’s answer to this question was a veritable wish list of places:

“pizza joint. drug store. vietnamese/thai/korean restaurants. flower stand. antique/junk/vintage store. ice cream stand. street vendors. vintage clothing store. hamburger joint. wine store. tea house. dessert/wine bar. book store. more of any kind of restaurant. A bread bakery. farmers market.”

Another neighbor’s answer was pragmatic: “Cops and social services that will deal with the dopers in and around Beacon Hill Elementary playfield and that bus stop on 14th across from the school.”

What do you think is the best reason to live on Beacon Hill? That’s an easy one: “location, location, location.” 57% of you said that the Hill’s central location and proximity to other places you might want to go are the best reasons to live here. (10% gave a related, but distinct, answer — our easy accessibility to I-5 and I-90.)

33% of you cited the “the United Nations diversity” of the Hill as a best reason to live here: “There’s no majority. You look at the faces on the 36 and it looks like the world.” Apparently our neighborhood is not just diverse, but friendly as well: 21% of you mentioned your nice, friendly neighbors. One neighbor wrote, “I feel like it’s an incredibly friendly place to live, and that our neighbors genuinely care about one another. And that’s not even our neighbors who profess to live in ‘community’ households the way that we do!” Another said, simply, “My neighbors rock.”

16% mentioned the affordability of living on Beacon Hill, and 8% specifically mentioned the new light rail.

On the other hand… what is the best reason to move away from Beacon Hill? Lack of retail and other amenities in our business district was the reason selected by 29%. One-third of people who gave this answer (10% of the overall total) explicitly stated that they wanted those amenities to be walkable. 12% of you specifically referred to a lack of restaurants, pubs, or coffee shops. Crime is a concern mentioned by 18% of you. 6% mentioned decreasing affordability, and another 6% mentioned noise (almost entirely airplane noise, but one person mentioned light rail noise as well).

7% of you said that there is no reason to ever move away from Beacon Hill. However, two optimistic people said that the best reason to move away would be “winning the lottery.” And one neighbor faced the sad reality of life on Beacon, answering “hard to pursue career as singing cowboy on the hill.”

Tags: amenities, survey, things we don't love, things we love, wish lists

Publicola seeks your broadband (in)accessibility anecdotes

Glenn Fleishman writes at the very end of his latest article, Digital Discrimination, a further exploration into the bandwidth black hole that is Beacon Hill and the Central District, at Publicola:

I’m looking for insight from the neighborhood. Do you live in Beacon Hill, the C.D., or surrounding areas and have been frustrated with broadband? Comment below. Tell us what you have, what you get, and what you’ve tried to do. Are you planning to move because of this, because you can’t work at all from home or stay up on office issues? Does it affect your business? Let us know.

Drop on by, read the article, and let him know about your home or business internet situation here on the hill.

Top of the Hill survey results, part 2: food and fun

The next batch of results in the Beacon Hill Blog Top of the Hill reader survey are about food and fun on the hill. We’ll be bringing the rest of the survey results to you periodically over the next few days. Previous results are here.

(Editor’s note added 9/21, 2:56 pm: As with the earlier results, some of these results don’t add up to 100% because people gave multiple answers.)

What is the best restaurant on Beacon Hill? We knew El Quetzal was well-liked but didn’t expect it to be as much as an overwhelming favorite as it was. Apparently lots of us are fans of their tortas and huaraches: 40% of respondents selected the tiny Mexican restaurant on Beacon Avenue as the best restaurant on the Hill. Its closest competition was the Java Love/Baja Bistro combo, with 21%. A few other restaurants were mentioned multiple times, including Kusina Filipina (5%), La Cabaña (4%), Thai Recipe (3%, and just barely qualifying as Beacon Hill, since it’s almost at the bottom of McClellan — but we’ll take what we can get), and Inay’s (2%).

3% of you don’t feel any Beacon Hill restaurants are up to snuff, so you go to Georgetown or Columbia City. Then there was the guy who said the best restaurant is “Chevron.” (Hey, the seasoned catfish there is actually really good.)

(Editor’s note: Commenter cliff rancho points out that it’s actually the Shell station that has the tasty catfish. We don’t know if any nearby Chevron actually has edible food or not.)

The award for most misspelled restaurant on Beacon Hill goes to Kusina Filipina. Survey respondents spelled it: “Kuisina Filipina,” “Cusina Fillipina,” “Cucina Philippina,” “Kusina Flilipina,” and “the Filopina kitchen next door that I can not spell.” Only one person spelled it right.

What is the best evening hangout on Beacon Hill? All right, we admit that this is one of the questions we asked hoping that our readers would tell us about some potential places to go in the evenings that we don’t already know about. Unfortunately, the pickings are still a little slim up here.
More »

Tags: dessert, restaurants, survey

Top of the Hill Survey Results Part 1: Names and changes

The first Beacon Hill Blog Top of the Hill reader survey closed last week. We’ll be bringing the results to you periodically over the next week or so. Here’s the first part of the results.

The survey started with a couple of basic questions:

Where do you live on Beacon Hill? We did know that we had more readers in North Beacon than any other part of the hill, but were surprised to see how many more. 63% of survey respondents live on North Beacon Hill, 32% on Mid-Beacon, and only 4% on South Beacon. North Beacon is probably slightly denser than the rest of the hill, but not so much that we’d expect that sort of difference.

How long have you lived on Beacon Hill? This answer surprised us a great deal, though perhaps it should not have. The leading answer by a mile, was 1-5 years, chosen by 38% of respondents. It was followed by 5-10 years (20%), 10-20 years (18%), 0-1 year (14%), 20-30 years (5%) and more than 30 years (also 5%). Particularly interesting here is that this indicates that 52% of us — at least, of those of us who read the BHB and fill out surveys — have been here for five years or less.

As the disclaimer in the last sentence indicates, however, we are well aware of the statistical limitations of our survey. Does it represent all of Beacon Hill well? Probably not. We probably should have taken more demographic info, to get a better idea who might be answering the survey. Still, it does seem likely that Beacon Hill has a lot of newcomers these days.

More »

Tags: survey

One more day to fill out “Top of the Hill” survey

As we posted earlier, the Top of the Hill survey is currently open. The survey lets you tell us what your favorite places are on Beacon Hill, or, sometimes, your least favorite.

You have one more day to take the survey! After tomorrow the survey will be closed. We’ll publish the results as soon as we can after that, but it may take a little while to crunch the numbers.

Tags: survey

Volunteer opportunities a-go-go

The Hanford Stairs Weed Busters need you! Susan Fairo is seeking teams of two people (volunteering together or matched up individuals) who can put in 2-3 hours four times a year to help keep weeds from taking over the new native plants at the public staircase near 25th and Cheasty. Rookie Weed Buster team volunteers will receive instruction on what to remove and what to ignore, and use of tools, watering, plant disposal, etc. If you’re interested or have questions, contact Susan at susan.fairo@gmail.com or call 206-349-7285.

* * *

Noticed an increase in airplane noise? Patty Fong is organizing neighbors in Beacon Hill and the Central District to address the issue with the FAA. See this comment on a previous Beacon Bits for more details, including contact information.

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Teens can earn service learning credit at the library. In addition to free SAT prep and online tutoring, the Seattle Public Library is also running a teen advisory board this school year. If you know teens wishing to earn service learning credit by writing book reviews, helping at teen programs, or writing for the SPL blog, contact Jennifer Bisson at Jennifer.Bisson@spl.org or call 206-615-1410.

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Catholic Community Services is looking for tutors. Their Youth Tutoring Program is an after-school educational enrichment program for at-risk students in first through twelfth grade. Volunteers offer academic support and also serve as positive role models to students, helping strengthen their sense of self-esteem and self-respect. Tutors help students with reading, homework (all subjects), math and language arts skills. Resources are available for those subjects you might not remember quite so well, and no specific background is necessary aside from a high school diploma. Tutoring Centers located nearby in NewHolly and Rainier Vista are open Monday-Thursday from 4:20-7:40pm, and tutoring would be for 1-3 hours per week on the same night every week. You can apply online at http://www.ccsww.org/ytp.

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Flash Volunteer offers many more volunteer opportunities. A non-profit startup run by Brad Wilke, a former Development Director at Denise Louie, aims to link people and neighborhood-focused volunteer opportunities. Check it out at www.flashvolunteer.org.

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A South Beacon Hill neighborhood watch is coming together. Mike Cheney, working with SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon’s encouragement, is trying to bring together South Beacon Hill neighbors to form a neighborhood watch group. Perhaps you read the recent Wall Street Journal article “Civilian Patrols Grow As Recession Puts Citizens on Guard” and it piqued your interest, or maybe you’d just like to make your block a safer place to live. If you’re interested, email Mike at redboneshadow@yahoo.com.

Tags: airplane noise, block watch, cheasty, hanford stairs, hanford steps, library, neighborhood watch, plants, public stairs, service learning credit, traffic, tutoring, tutors, volunteers

Walking with Tica: the other side of the leash

All of my posts so far have been about me and my experiences as a pedestrian and neighbor in Beacon Hill.  I’d like to share some of my observations about sharing my life with an athletic, social animal.

Tica turned 10 in June.  She’s still active and continues to demand (and deserve) regular exercise, but at a much more gentle pace.  We go out for 20-30 minutes in the morning and again in the evening.  From age 1-5, Tica had to be engaged for at least a couple of hours every day.   She is a smart, social dog and it was fun to find ways to keep her entertained.  It was also a lot of work.  I trained Tica using a “clicker” and positive training methods.  This approach worked miracles with my high-energy dog.  Using positive methods strengthened our relationship and helped Tica become more trusting of strangers.  Clicker Solutions is one of many online resources for this method.

My mantra in those years was “a tired dog is a good dog.” When Tica was younger, she got bored easily.  When she was bored, she’d find ways to get my attention–barking, whining, digging, chewing… behaviors I couldn’t ignore.  I realized that keeping her busy on my terms was a lot easier than trying to deal with her behavior after she got bored.

If you have a spring puppy, you’ve probably both been basking in the incredible weather.  It’s easy (and fun!) to take long walks and extended trips to the dog park while the sun is shining.  It’s a lot more effort when the sun goes down at 5:45 and the puddles are past your ankles.  Make the effort to keep your dog active–it pays off!

Wondering how you’re going to keep your dog active & happy this winter?

• Wear a watch. Make a commitment to take the dog out every day. Most experts recommend 60-90 minutes, especially for high energy and/or younger dogs.  You know your dog and your lifestyle.  Set a goal and stick to it.
• Dress appropriately. You’re more likely to take the dog out if you’re comfortable.  Wear weather appropriate shoes, invest in a good raincoat, and get several hats.  Keep visibility in mind–you want drivers to see you on dark November afternoons.  I don’t wear headphones because I want to be aware of my surroundings.
• Keep your dog safe and comfortable. Some breeds are prone to ear infections, especially in wet climates.  Watch for discharge coming out of the ears and/or extra scratching.  Some breeds (Greyhounds, pit bulls, etc) need a sweater or rain coat to stay dry and warm on long walks.  Talk to your vet if you have concerns.
• Trade doggy play dates and/or get together with a friend. Take turns bringing the dogs to the park, or simply getting them together to run around in the backyard.  You’re less likely to put off that walk when you’ve made a commitment to another human.
• Play indoor games with your pooch.  Teach new tricks, hide dog treats behind the couch or in the bathtub, or practice a quiet “down, stay” while you’re making dinner.  Mental stimulation and social interaction keep dogs busy & happy.  Your dog still needs to go outside–but make the most of indoor time, too.
• Take classes. Seattle has too many dog resources to list.  Agility, obedience, herding, conformation…there’s bound to be something you and your dog will both enjoy.  Many classes are in a covered or indoor area.
• Hire a professional. If you’re too stretched for time to meet your dog’s needs, consider paying for a dog walker or taking your pup to a doggy daycare.  A responsible teenage neighbor might just be the perfect answer for getting your dog out of the house.  Be sure to interview critically–this person is going to be alone with your pet and may have access to your home.  Check references.

In every season, remember to be a responsible neighbor: carry bags and clean up after your dog, keep her leashed, and be respectful of others.  Many people are afraid of dogs–including some dog owners.   Tica is medium sized by my standards (45lbs), but to some people she looks intimidating.  I don’t force the issue.  Observe dog and human body language and keep your dog under control.

It takes a village…

A new baby, illness, injury, increased or changed work schedule… sometimes there are times when the responsibilities of a pet are too much. If you need help, ask.  If your neighbor needs help, offer.   A dog walking service is a great baby shower gift!  There are also lots of pet charities who need your support.  Donate food, litter, and other supplies to help others care for their pets.  Encourage your animal-loving student to consider volunteering at a shelter when assigned community service projects.

Tags: dogs, pets, tica, walking

Library staff appreciation gestures planned for next week

We are partway through a bleak, library-less week, and some people have plans to let the library staff know how much they have been missed. Neighbor Sarah wrote to the mailing list with a challenge:

“I received an e-mail from a parents’ group saying that several neighborhoods are starting up campaigns to welcome back the Seattle Public Libraries staff on Tuesday, September 8th with cards, pictures, thank yous, whatever saying how much we appreciate our neighborhood libraries and miss them when they’re gone.

“I’m planning on putting something up there on Monday, I hope others will join me!”

Tags: library

Top of the Hill: our first annual survey, open now

Summer’s almost over, and it’s time for the first annual Beacon Hill Blog “Top of the Hill” survey!

The survey lets you tell us what your favorite places are on the Hill, or, sometimes, your least favorite. Some of the questions are serious, some are frivolous, but the results should be entertaining, at the very least.

The survey will be open for two weeks. It will close on September 11. We’ll show you the results shortly after that.

The survey is open to anyone who lives or works or spends lots of time on Beacon Hill.

Go here to fill out the survey, and have fun!

Tags: survey, things people say, things we don't love, things we love

Walking with Tica: Working out on Beacon Hill stairs

I’m a foul-weather gym member. The Meredith Matthews YMCA  (just off 23rd in the Central District) has a great facility and low rates—and they allow me to join and cancel at will with no fees. This allows me to workout outside when I want, and inside when the weather shifts.  I prefer to spend as much time outside as possible in the summer, and to integrate my workouts into the rest of my life as much as possible.

If you’re looking for a great workout in our neighborhood, check out the stairs running east-west on the streets between 15th and 17th. I created a Google map to give an idea of stair locations and the route we take.  Be creative and explore the area—I usually incorporate a few hills in addition to the stairs.

Depending on how much time I have (and how Tica’s feeling) we’ll walk or jog the stairs while heading north, then slow down and head south towards home along a less steep route.

It’s a great workout with some breathtaking views. I put some of my shots from this area in the Beacon Hill Blog Flickr photo pool—share yours!

Much thanks for all the hard work neighbors and volunteers have been putting in to make these stairs usable!

Tags: bayview stairs, stairs, steep, walking, workout

Neighbor-to-neighbor: Parking woes in the RPZ

What are your experiences with the new RPZ (Restricted Parking Zone) in Beacon Hill?

Since 2003, I’ve parked my car in front of the house on the concrete area between the sidewalk and the street. There are two spaces and the curb is cut to allow car access to the area. The car doesn’t block the sidewalk. We considered this area a parking strip. According to the brochure left on my windshield, the City considers it a planting strip and it is illegal to park there.

I’m not the only person on our block to use this area for long-term parking. If I park on the street, I have to move my car every 72 hours–even if I have nowhere to go. I thought parking on the parking strip was responsible; I’m frustrated that it’s not allowed.

We chose this neighborhood in part because the location encourages and supports leaving the car at home. I walk to Red Apple and restaurants and we both take mass transit to work. We have cars because occasionally we need them–but rarely every 72 hours.

How does a law that requires every car in the city move every 72 hours encourage people to get out of our cars? How is parking in a paved area with curb cutouts worse than parking on the street?

Does anyone know the process for initiating changes in parking policy?

Tags: light rail station, mass transit, parking, planting strips, rpz, tickets

Meet your neighbors at a Night Out Block Party on Tuesday

As we mentioned earlier, Tuesday August 4, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, is the annual neighborhood Block Party and National Night Out Against Crime. Groups of neighbors throughout the Hill — and throughout the country — are getting together to celebrate their community and hang out with the neighbors while heightening crime prevention awareness.

If you haven’t registered your party with the police department yet, you can still do so until 9:00 am today. Registration materials are here. Of course, you can have a celebration with your neighbors whether you register or not, but to have the street closed, and for the firefighters to bring their truck by for the kids to check out, you’ll need to register your block party.

These are the block parties we have been made aware of this year. Are you having one that isn’t listed here? Please post about it in the comments.

• Mid-Beacon Hill Block party on South Brandon Street between 20th Avenue South and 21st Avenue South. If you would like to attend, please email Katrina at katrina.thompson@gmail.com
• Join the neighbors from the north side of 15th Avenue South on the cul-de-sac on 15th and Massachusetts, right across the North Beacon Hill P-Patch. Please bring your own drinks, chairs, and a dish for the potluck. “We will have plenty of music, neighbors, and fun. We hope to meet more of our neighbors. Thanks.”
• “We’ll be hosting a night out event on South Snoqualmie Street, just west of 11th Avenue South. Come on out!”
• There is a block party on the 4200 block of 14th Avenue South between South Nevada and South Oregon, 6:30 pm — 10:00 pm. “What people are encouraged to bring: Small Grill, Chairs, Food (Meat, Veggies, Fruit, Desert, etc…), and smiling faces. We’d love to invite folks from all over Beacon Hill, so it doesn’t matter if you’re from our block. Come on out!”
• A block party will be between Judkins and Atlantic on 13th Avenue South, in a shaded area with several barbecues and room for kids to play. “Please feel free to drop by if you live in the neighborhood.”

Tags: block parties, neighbors, night out